Sangu poo, aparajita in Hindi, is butterfly pea, a twining vine with striking blue flowers whose shape inspired its Tamil name, conch flower. The flowers make a deep blue tea that turns purple when lemon is added, popular in Thailand and Malaysia and now in Indian cafés. Malaysian nasi kerabu rice is coloured blue with it. In some regions it is one of the plants sold as shankhpushpi.
- Botanical name
- Clitoria ternatea L.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Tamil
- Sangu poo
- Hindi
- Aparajita
- Sanskrit
- Aparājitā
- Parts used
- Flowers, Sometimes root and seed in lists
- Habit
- Twining pea with large blue or white flowers
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Sangu poo
It is a slender, twining perennial vine.
The leaves are pinnate, with five to seven oval leaflets.
The flowers are large, single or double, deep blue with a white or yellow centre, or all white.
The pods are flat and long, with several seeds.
The flower’s large standard petal is held upside down compared with most peas.
Traditional use of Sangu poo
Kitchen
Dried flowers are brewed into blue tea in Thailand and colour rice and sweets in Malaysia.
South-east Asian food practice
Ritual
Blue aparajita flowers are offered to Shiva and Durga.
Hindu ritual practice
Ayurveda
Aparajita root and seed are used in Ayurveda for memory and as a purgative.
Ayurvedic practice
Modern notes on Sangu poo
The blue colour comes from anthocyanins called ternatins, which turn purple in acid.
It is grown as fodder and green manure because it fixes nitrogen.
Seeds and roots are strongly laxative.
In 2021 the United States approved butterfly pea flower extract as a natural blue food colour.
Sangu poo safety
Flower tea is a common drink. Do not eat the seeds or root, which are purgative, and avoid it in pregnancy.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to tropical Asia.
Bees pollinate its flowers.
It climbs fences and hedges quickly in warm weather.
Its pods twist as they dry and fling out the seeds.
Related plants
Also in Fabaceae
Questions about Sangu poo
Why does the tea change colour?
Its pigments turn purple in acid.
What does sangu poo mean?
Conch flower.
Is the tea safe?
Yes, in normal amounts.
Is Sangu poo shankhpushpi?
In some regions.
Are the seeds of Sangu poo edible?
No. They are purgative.
Sources
- Clitoria ternatea L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q312265 (Clitoria ternatea)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.